''Daphne'' or ''Die Verwandelte Daphne'' (''Daphne Metamorphosed''), HWV 4, is an

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librett ...

composed by

Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel (; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concertos. Handel received his training i ...

for the

Oper am Gänsemarkt The Oper am Gänsemarkt was a theatre in Hamburg, Germany, built in 1678 after plans of Girolamo Sartorio at the Gänsemarkt square. It was the first public opera house to be established in Germany: not a court opera, as in many other towns. E ...

in Hamburg in 1706, to a libretto by Hinrich Hinsch. The opera, based on the

Daphne Daphne (; ; el, Δάφνη, , ), a minor figure in Greek mythology, is a naiad, a variety of female nymph associated with fountains, wells, springs, streams, brooks and other bodies of freshwater. There are several versions of the myth in whi ...

myth, was the second part of a double opera. Both works were first performed in Hamburg in January 1708. While the music is lost, the libretto survived, and two suites were reconstructed.

History

Georg Friedrich Händel composed ''Die Verwandelte Daphne'' at the request of Reinhard Keiser, the manager of the

in 1706. The opera was the second part of a double opera, with the first part, ''

Florindo ''Der beglückte Florindo'' ( HWV 3) is an opera composed by Handel at the request of Reinhard Keiser, the manager of the Hamburg Opera. It was first performed (after Handel had left for Italy) at the Theater am Gänsemarkt in January 1708. It wa ...

''. Origibally both works were planned for one evening. The libretto, based on the

myth, was by , a lawyer, who also wrote the text for Keiser's first opera in Hamburg, ''Mahumet II'' (1696), based on the life of

Mehmet II Mehmed II ( ota, محمد ثانى, translit=Meḥmed-i s̱ānī; tr, II. Mehmed, ; 30 March 14323 May 1481), commonly known as Mehmed the Conqueror ( ota, ابو الفتح, Ebū'l-fetḥ, lit=the Father of Conquest, links=no; tr, Fâtih Su ...

. Hinsch had been writing librettos since 1681. He died in 1712. After completing ''Daphne'', Händel only taught and studied music by colleagues. He prepared his departure to Italy where he planned to study further; he copied Keiser's opera '' Octavia'' and took it along on his journey. ''Daphne'' was first performed at the Theater am Gänsemarkt in January 1708. It was probably directed from the

harpsichord A harpsichord ( it, clavicembalo; french: clavecin; german: Cembalo; es, clavecín; pt, cravo; nl, klavecimbel; pl, klawesyn) is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. This activates a row of levers that turn a trigger mechanism ...

Christoph Graupner Christoph Graupner (13 January 1683 – 10 May 1760) was a German composer and harpsichordist of late Baroque music who was a contemporary of Johann Sebastian Bach, Georg Philipp Telemann and George Frideric Handel. Life Born in Hartmannsdorf ...

. Only fragments of the score survive, but a copy of the libretto exists in the

Library of Congress The Library of Congress (LOC) is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the ''de facto'' national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library is ...

Roles

* Phoebus, in love with Daphne *

, daughter of Pineus, to marry Florindo * Florindo, son of Enipheus, to marry Daphne, secretly loved by Alfirena * Lycoris, nymph, in love with Florindo * Damon, shepherd, in love with Lycoris *

Galathea ''Galathea'' is one of the largest genera of squat lobsters, containing 70 currently recognised species (17 in the Atlantic Ocean, 22 in the Indian Ocean and 43 in the Pacific Ocean). Most species of ''Galathea'' live in shallow waters. Species ...

, old nymph, Daphne's confidante * Alfirena, daughter of Apidinus, secretly in love with Florindo * Tyrsis, shepherd from Arcadia, Damon's friend * Cupido, god of love * shepherds, priests

Plot

The plot rests on a conflict between gods Phoebus and Cupido. It follows traditions to deal with love, often unrequited and leading to suffering, and depicts complex intrigue and intricate love relationships, alluding to death, hatred and revenge.

Suites

Two suites from ''Daphne'' were reconstructed and were published by Bärenreiter in a collection of single pieces orchestral music by Handel, as part of their complete edition of Handel's works, one in B-flat major, HWV 352, and one in G major, HWV353. The Suite in G major was recorded as part of a collection of Handel's music for Hamburg, ''Handel in Hamburg'', by the ensemble

Parley of Instruments The Parley of Instruments takes its name from some of the earliest public concerts in the world, given in London in 1676 by the violinist John Banister. The Parley was founded in 1979—long experience in the scholarship and performance of 17th and ...

conducted by

Peter Holman Peter Kenneth Holman MBE (born 19 October 1946, London) is an English conductor and musicologist best known for reviving the music of Purcell and his English contemporaries. Holman, with the ensemble The Parley of Instruments made many of the ex ...

and released in 1998.

References

Cited sources

* * * * * * * *

External links

Die verwandelte Daphne
(libretto)

Handel Society * * {{Authority control Operas by George Frideric Handel 1708 operas Operas Opera world premieres at the Hamburg State Opera German-language operas Lost operas